Cross Dressing

A rollicking good time of a novel filled with characters and situations that will make you laugh at loud!

I have read and enjoyed several of Bill Fitzhugh’s books; I think this is the best so far. It is readable and amusing, but also carries some truly scathing satire.

The plot is based heavily in farce, of course. Dan Steele is a cynical, materialistic, uncaring advertising executive with little compassion or moral sense. By an...er...unusual sequence of events he ends up pretending to be a Catholic priest and working in a badly underfunded Care Centre run by an unconventional and very attractive nun. This being Bill Fitzhugh, he also has a number of people who are trying to track him down and kill him.

The story of an inhumane man discovering his humanity may sound hackneyed, but it’s very well done, very amusing and has a plot which becomes quite gripping. It is also brilliantly excoriating about the contrast between the many magnificently good people who do the Church’s work on the ground and the self-serving behaviour of some of its hierarchy. Fitzhugh’s approach is probably best summed up in a quote he uses from Lenny Bruce: “Every day people are drifting away from the church and going back to God.” He also takes some very well aimed potshots at the advertising industry, US materialism and so on.

Most of all, though, this is a really good read; I was hooked and thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’ve rounded 4.5 stars up to 5 for that reason. Warmly recommended.

(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Can a debt-ridden ad executive find true happiness assuming the identity of his dead twin brother? Especially if that means living as a priest? Bill Fitzhugh dares to find out in this book, and it's a wild ride as we try to answer that question. This book strikes the wonderful balance of being hilarious, with several laugh out loud moments, while carrying a plot I really cared about. It sounds like a recipe many authors try - mix together a madcap plot, mistaken identities, quirky characters and a little bit of sexual tension and see how it all comes out - well this one comes out perfect! This is my favorite of his books that I've read so far, and although that list is short, it's about to get longer as I set out to read all the others that I can.

Thanks to Farrago Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An unusual story of identical twin brothers brought up by a single parent mother who choose to follow opposite paths. Dan working in advertising, steeped in materialism where more is not enough, and the only care apart from himself is paying for his mother in care. Father Michael is destitute working in Africa with little funds caring for refugees within the turmoil of civil unrest. The circumstances that cause the brothers to switch roles when Father Michael dies of a tropical disease when Dan is bankrupt enables him to escape his creditors. Having to act out his false identity leads to his salvation. A light-hearted American humous story interposed with homilies on the morality of the advertising world and the short comings of the Catholic Church.

Another hilarious winner from Bill Fitzhugh. This time around the story involves twin brothers working in two different worlds, advertising and the Catholic Church, who decide one day to switch roles.

Why not? But with this wonderful author and his wicked and twisted mind it never ends up looking so straightforward. Just a bit crooked or really devious...
So switch they do and mayhem ensues!

A delightful romp with a fiendish plot and a cast of unforgettable weirdos.....
Bill Fitzhugh is one of the few comic wordsmiths that can keep me in stitches for hours. Unfortunately I'm addicted to his wackiness and I don't intend to seek help! 👍👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Farrago for this terrific ARC

Absolutely the funniest book I've read in a long time. He takes on big advertising and the church and he shows no mercy to either.

The characters were fabulous. (In my mind's eye, I kept seeing Scott Emmans as the stapler guy in Office Space.)

The storyline flowed in and out through the entirety of the book and was very easy to follow.

All in all, Bill Fitzhugh just hits it out of the park with this one. I can only hope that someone makes this into a movie. It would be a shame not to.

A cynical tale of consumerism, and all of its bad sides. Yet a wonderful story as well, though I can't reveal too much of it without the risk of spoiling it. Dan is in advertising, in a senior role, but he never has enough money to pay for his mother, Ruth's, medical care and indulge his lavish lifestyle without debts. His brother, Michael, is his identical twin, but has chosen to become a priest. Soon, Dan's former problems fade into insignificance, compared to his later ones. I particularly liked Sister Peg, her characterisation was magnificent. A funny story with a serious criticism of consumerism. Highly recommended.

Funny and full of dark humor, it made me laugh and kept me reading the farcical adventures of the characters.
I grew up Catholic and some of the characters are quite realistic even it may sound weird.
Full of dark humour it may not be everyone's cup of tea but it surely was mine.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Dan Steele appears to be a successful ad executive living the dream. Sister Peg appears to be a nun. Father Michael appears to be a priest on home leave from mission work in Africa. In this novel, however, things are not always as they seem.

Tightly plotted and gracefully written, this book is filled with rollicking action, dark humor, and thoughtful social commentary. The characters will stay with you long after you finish reading.

Fans of Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey will love it, but this book is a fun and thought-provoking read for anyone. It could make a good book club selection, too.

Another ZANY book from Bill Fitzhugh, the man who deserves a genre of his own, "...mysteries, fiction, and BILLfolded..." Billfolded? WHUH? It is that wonderful feeling of joy you get after reading one of this author's works of art; Mr. Fitzhugh provides a perfect "timeout from this STRESSFUL age due to his delightfully provocative imagination (like going to a retreat for a few days). Spoil yourself, from Pest Control to Cross Dressing, Fitzhugh is sure to delight.

Thanks to Netgalley for proving me a free copy of this book - my review is my honest opinion.